Honey | Pies and Plots

Vanilla Walnut “Shortbread” and Liebster Award

January 26, 2013 47 Comments

Jennifer from Luv What You Do was kind enough to give me for a Liebster Award. I love reading Jennifer’s blog for all her adventures in fitness and healthy eating. It is so great to read another blogger’s posts on exercise. I am always getting healthy ideas and lots of inspiration from Jennifer. I was absolutely shocked when I received this award, and to be honest I had to do some investigation into what it is. A Liebster is given to bloggers by other bloggers who like them. The awarded bloggers then have to share eleven facts about themselves, answer eleven questions from the blogger whom nominated them, share eleven new questions, and nominate eleven bloggers. I am so honored and excited, so let’s get right to it.

Eleven Facts About Me

I don’t know how to drive a car and I have no interest in learning. I tried to drive once and felt the car was going to fast when it was idling. Luckily I have Mom and Dad to drive me places . . . I’ll worry about the future another day.
I am obsessed with nail polish. I have bottle after bottle of it, more than I could ever use. It makes me feel happy and pretty when I’m down or just at home wearing a track suit.
I exercise two hours a day five days a week. I run for an hour and play Wii Active Life Outdoor Challenge for an hour. It kicks my butt but makes me feel great and lets me eat all the yummy things I make.
If I am at home and awake, my TV is on. I love watching TV and do so while blogging, baking, writing, eating, reading, sometimes I even leave it on when I sleep. And there’s even one in my bathroom.
I watch almost everything after it has been recorded on my TiVo. I almost never watch commercials. I can watch so much more TV! Yay!
I never wear perfume because I’m allergic; however I collect little decorative bottles and display them on a tray in my bedroom.
I make a concerted effort to avoid buying things made in China. My kitchen, closet, house, and life in general are filled with things made in France, Germany, and my favorite, good old America.
I never lay out in the sun. I have fair skin, don’t want to get burned and don’t want skin cancer. So if I’m spending more than twenty minutes outside I’m carrying an umbrella.
I don’t shake hands or fist bump. I’m germaphobic and don’t want to do something so minor I’ll spend the rest of the day worrying about. I’ll elbow bump if absolutely necessary.
I always wear a small gold and citrine ring that my Granny gave Mom when she was a little girl. I now also wear one she gave my aunt with an emerald as well. They remind me of them and make me feel like they are always with me, even if they aren’t.
When I am in the house, I always wear Ugg Slippers. They are so soft and fluffy and keep my feet warm and clean. I love when I get a new pair as the fur surrounds my toes. I just wish they lasted longer. No shoes are ever allowed to be warn in the house.

Eleven Questions from Jennifer

What is your astrological sign? Do you fit the description?

My astrological sign is Aquarius. I am original, artistic, and inventive, along with being impatient and opinionated. I am also pretty eccentric, so I would say I surprisingly do fit the description.

2. What is your favorite winter activity?

My favorite winter activity is staying home and watching TV. I really do not like winter weather and want desperately to move somewhere warm. So any activity that allows me to stay home and warm is the best. I’m a TV addict, so it’s always nice when the fall season starts.

3. Flats or Heels?

Heels all the way. If I am outside of the house, I have heels on. The higher, the better. The lowest heels I own are 3.5 inches, and the tallest are 6 with a platform. Shoes are one of my favorite things.

4. Who was your first kiss?

I still haven’t had my first kiss But it will happen when the time is right.

5. If you could get rid of one form of social media, what would it be?

Facebook. I just don’t like Facebook. It is weird and complicated and not everyone who likes me gets to see my posts and their advertising is funky. Yeah, not a fan of Facebook.

6. Last race you participated in? What race are you doing next?

I have never participated in a race. While I know I could do one physically, I just don’t know if I have the mental toughness to do it.

7. What is your favorite gift to give others?

Food. I’m a foodie and I love sharing great food with others. If they are close, I love to share the things I make. But for those far away, I send food from my favorite places, Zingerman’s or Jeni’s Ice Cream, among others.

8. If you won the lottery, what would be your first purchase?

A house in California and enough hours on a private plane to get there. I would be happy with that alone forever.

9. What is your favorite meal? Breakfast, lunch or Dinner and Why?

Dinner. It is the meal Mom and I always make together without having to rush around. It is always different and my favorite way to round out the day. I also love the foods I eat at dinner – fish, beef, vegetables, fruit, dessert. And it’s my biggest meal of the day, so as a foodie, it’s bound to be my favorite.

10. Do your friends, family and coworkers know that you are a blogger?

Anyone who comes into contact with me knows I am a blogger. If I can have your attention for one moment, I will mention my blog, hand you a business card, and beg you to visit, like me on Facebook, etc. I want my blog to grow sooooo badly.

11. What do you like most about blogging and what is the hardest part?

I love that blogging forces me to bake and pushes me out of my comfort zone to do so. If I’m out of posts, I’m forced to the kitchen to whip up something. I also don’t want my blog to be filled with boring recipes or the same things everyone else is making, so it’s a blast coming up with different and creative ideas. The hardest part is growing my blog. No matter what I do, it just won’t grow. Please visit and help it grow Taking photos is a very close second. Sometimes I just want to throw the camera across the room.

Eleven New Questions

If you could meet one celebrity who would it be and why?
Where is the best place you have taken a vacation?
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?
What is your favorite TV show?
What is your favorite season – spring, summer, fall, or winter, and why?
What is your favorite thing you have posted on your blog?
What made you start blogging?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
If you could have a superhero power what would it be?
Since I have never been on a first date, what would your ideal first date be like?
Do you have a good luck charm?

Eleven Bloggers that Inspire Me

Sally’s Baking Addiction

These are the blogs I read all the time and the bloggers I have come to feel are my friends. They make this crazy blogging adventure so much more enjoyable, as I look forward to seeing their latest creations day in and day out. Whenever I need a smile, I look to them and they always provide great content and sometimes a little needed encouragement.

On to the recipe. I wanted to make something quick, easy, and healthy. That’s right I said healthy. Aida Mollenkamp tweeted these Vanilla Walnut “Shortbread” Cookies and I knew instantly I had to give them a try. They are ready in well under an hour, including chilling time. The flavor and texture are incredible. Okay, if you gave me a blind taste test, I’m pretty sure I could tell the difference between these and traditional shortbread, but these are a completely addictive guilt free treat. The honey flavor stands out, which I welcomed, as there aren’t many desserts that really taste like honey. The texture is fine and sandy, kind of like shortbread. I also think these could have many variations. Swap the walnuts for pecans or almonds. I am also wondering if maple syrup could be used instead of honey to make them vegan in addition to being gluten free. They can also be raw if you use raw honey. I did not as it brings more possible health risks than processed honey. Regardless, whip up a batch of these cookies and eat a couple while visiting my favorite blogs to find some more kitchen inspiration. I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I did writing it.

4.3 from 8 reviews

Vanilla Walnut “Shortbread” and Liebster Award

Prep time: 45 mins

Total time: 45 mins

Serves: 15

Ingredients

2 cups raw walnuts
1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut (I used Bob’s Red Mill)
¼ cup honey
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

Line a baking sheet with parchment. Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Process for 30-60 seconds, until all the ingredients are combined and a dough is formed. You may need to scrape down the bowl and break up the ingredients if they form a ball.
Take a spoonful of dough and roll it into a ball in your hands. Place it onto the lined baking sheet. Once all the dough has been formed into balls, press down on each ball to flatten it slightly. I did not flatten them too much, but flatten as much as you like. Place the sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes before enjoying. Cookies may be stored in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Shutterbean

Filed Under: Cookies, No Bake, Snack Tagged With: Coconut, Cookies, Gluten Free, Healthy, Honey, No Bake, Shortbread, Vanilla, Walnuts

Caramel Pretzel Bars

January 16, 2013 45 Comments

The Super Bowl means two things for me: commercials and half time. I like football. I like the players and their stories. The underdog winning when you least expect it. Learning the stories behind the game. Hearing about the people that aren’t always at the forefront of publicity. Having something to cheer for, along with the rest of the country, even when it seems there isn’t anything to be happy about. I love watching the pregame shows. I’m a FOX viewer, welcoming Curt, Terry, Howie, Michael, and Jimmy into my home every week during the season, along with my local pregame team. They make me laugh and teach me something about a game I’m not all that familiar with. I haven’t missed an episode of Inside the NFL in years, even as it changed hosts and networks.

Other than touchdowns and field goals, first downs and punts, I don’t know much about the game itself at all. Off sides, holding, pass interference, it’s like another language. When I’m watching Inside the NFL, I fast forward through the highlight segments. The game itself kind of bores me. But at the end of the day it’s about moments of amazing plays and winners and losers. That fascinates me. I’ll be the first to cheer for an amazing play. A zero – zero tie heading into the fourth quarter? I’ll be in the kitchen.

The Super Bowl is the only game I actually sit on the couch and watch. And truthfully, I don’t really watch it. I can’t get enough of the day long pre game coverage. Musical performances before the game excite me. Then the game comes on and I pick up my latest read or my phone to catch up on blog work and email. But everything gets set aside when the commercials begin. In a world where I fast forward through every commercial, this is the one night when I am riveted by them, occasionally rewinding to catch it again. If I need to pause for any reason, it’s during the game I catch up.

Halftime is the best. A performer’s best in less than fifteen minutes. It couldn’t get better with not only Beyonce, but also a Destiny’s Child reunion this year. I’ve seen Destiny’s Child in concert twice and know almost all their songs. This should be a halftime show that I’ll remember forever.

Of course, you need a treat while you watch the game. Sure, there needs to be savory food, but what’s a football game without dessert? These Caramel Pretzel Bars instantly struck me as Super Bowl worthy. A thin, yet firm brown sugar shortbread has amazing texture, some of the best I’ve found in shortbread, along with a mild sweetness. But the topping of caramel, with its complex flavor, accented by honey, and pretzels make these the ultimate treat. Crunchy, creamy, smooth, sweet, salty – these bars have everything. I was really impressed by the components separately as well as together. I have to say the stand out is the caramel. It’s so rich and smooth, but somehow the honey flavor is really pronounced, a welcome treat.

Whether you’re watching the game, checking out the commercials, or avoiding the hoopla altogether, these bars are a treat for any day. They’ll leave you yelling touchdown!

4.6 from 12 reviews

Caramel Pretzel Bars

Ingredients

Crust

1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Filling

1 ½ sticks unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 ¼ cups packed light brown sugar
¼ cup honey
¼ cup pure maple syrup (I love Blis)
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup heavy cream
6 cups small pretzel twists, broken into large pieces (I used Rold Gold)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9 by 13 inch baking pan with parchment, leaving overhang to pull the bars out later.
Make the crust. In a medium bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. I did this by hand, but a hand or stand mixer would work as well. Mix in the vanilla. Add the flour and salt and mix until the ingredients are combined and the mixture is crumbly. Press into the pan firmly. Bake for 15-18 minutes until light golden brown around the edges.
While the crust is baking and cooling, make the filling. In a large saucepan over medium or medium-high heat, combine butter, brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens slightly, about 10 minutes. Add the cream and insert a candy thermometer in the pan. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the candy thermometer reaches 240 degrees F. Once this happens, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the pretzels immediately.
Pour the pretzel-caramel mixture over the prepared crust and spread evenly over the crust. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the mixture is bubbling. Allow to cool completely in the pan. When cool, use the parchment to remove the bars from the pan. Using a sharp knife, cut into bars. Bars may stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 week, or frozen, wrapped in parchment and foil and placed in a zipper bag for up to 4 months. Thaw at room temperature for about 1 hour.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Saveur

Filed Under: Baked Goods, Bars, Candy, Caramel Tagged With: Bars, Dessert, Honey, Maple Syrup, Preztels, Salt, Shortbread, Vanilla

Sugar Plums

December 21, 2012 35 Comments

The other day Mom asked me what I would say if someone asked me about my Christmas traditions. Since no one has ever asked me this question, I had never really considered it and brushed the question off with an “I don’t know.” But then her words got me thinking. What are my Christmas traditions? Do I have any at all? What makes my holidays special? There has to be something . . . right?

The more I thought and Mom and I talked about it, the more traditions that came to mind. The amazing display of inside decorations is a pretty good place to start. Every year I look forward to seeing all my old favorites make their return and new additions get displayed for the first time, as Dad bemoans the fact that we are running out of space. We turn the decorations on as soon as we get up on Christmas morning and leave them on all day. The motorized ornaments and singing Hallmark stuffed animals the perfect soundtrack for our festivities.

Then there’s the fact that we don’t travel for the holiday any longer. My parents are the most important people in my life and I in theirs, so there is simply no better way to spend the day than with each other, avoiding the hassle of travelling and the drama of a huge crowd. We open presents on Christmas morning, then spend some time investigating them. Among my treasures is always the annual Swarovski snowflake ornament. I began collecting them quite a few years ago and hope one day perhaps I can complete the collection with the earlier missing ornaments. I take Christmas off (okay this year you’ll probably see a couple Tweets from me), not even turning my computer on.

Mom and I always bake something. I truthfully don’t know what it will be this year, but there is always some yummy treat that fills the kitchen. And we always have steak. In a house where Mom and I are always eating fish and Dad rotisserie chicken, it is nice to sit down to a meal of red meat, all of us for once enjoying the same food. This year we’re thinking filet mignon. No one cooks filet better than Mom, not even fancy steakhouses.

The best part about our traditions is that they evolve with us. As we change, so do our traditions. Perhaps the biggest and best tradition of the day is that we just have a good time, whatever that may or may not involve. As time goes on, I’m sure they will continue to change, but what’s important is that a little thought made me discover all the wonderful traditions around me that make the holidays truly special. What are your traditions for the holiday season?

Sugar Plums might just be a new Christmas tradition. These are quite different than anything I’ve made before, but I really enjoyed them. I have been on a huge dried fruit kick lately, and these take dried fruit to a whole new level. Tasting kind of like mincemeat, they are soft and chewy with tons of dried fruit, but have added crunch from toasted pecans (they must be toasted) and a coating of granulated sugar. However, it is the warm spices and heavy hit of fresh orange zest that make Sugar Plums shine. An easy to make, no bake, super sharable treat that’s light and dare I say healthy, make these a wonderful holiday sweet that I hope can be added to your list of holiday traditions as well.

4.6 from 11 reviews

Sugar Plums

Prep time: 30 mins

Total time: 30 mins

Serves: 36

Ingredients

2 cups pecans, toasted
1 cup dried pitted plums
½ cup dried pitted apricots
½ cup dried figs
¼ cup honey
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground allspice
½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
¼ cup confectioners’’ sugar
1 teaspoon fresh orange zest
Granulated sugar for rolling

Instructions

In the bowl of a food processor, pulse pecans, plums, apricots, and figs until finely chopped but not combined into a ball.
In a medium bowl, stir together honey, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, sugar, and orange zest until mostly combined. Not all of the sugar will be stirred in, but that’s okay.
Pour the fruit and nut mixture into the bowl and mix with a spoon, your hands, or both until fully combined and very sticky.
Take about 1 tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a ball in your hands. Coat it fully in granulated sugar. Continue to do so until all of the mixture is used. Sugar plums may be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 month. I do not recommend freezing this recipe.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Project Cupcake and Alton Brown

Filed Under: Candy, No Bake, Snack Tagged With: Apricots, Christmas, Cinnamon, Dried Fruit, Honey, Orange, Pecans, Plums, Prunes, Sugar Plums

Cherry Almond Granola Bars and Giveaway!

November 8, 2012 44 Comments

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED! Congratulations to Grace for winning the Chinet Bakeware. Enjoy!

It’s the time of year where you’re baking and cooking all the time. And all of that means even more dishes. Dishes? They’re no fun. I was introduced to Chinet Bakeware earlier this year and have fallen in love with it. It’s high quality disposable Bakeware that I love because it means no clean up, and it is the best way to give food to other people. No waiting to get your dishes back.

I have successfully made Peach Crisp and Plum Cherry Crumble in it, and I use it to set fudge all the time. I was even a weekly winner in their Bakeware contest. When Chinet approached me to do a giveaway for you, my wonderful readers, I was super excited. I know you all could use this for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I’m a sweets baker pretty much exclusively, but this Bakeware would be fabulous for dressing, macaroni and cheese, pasta casserole, green bean casserole, mashed regular or sweet potatoes, and so much more.

My only word of caution is that is isn’t the best way to bake something like a cake or bar where you need to make sure it bakes all the way through or the bottom of something gets crispy, as the pan does not conduct or hold heat very well, pretty much cool after only a few minutes out of the oven. But there are so many things it is great for, I’m so thankful this product is on store shelves and that one of you will get a chance to try it.

First I wanted to make something different with it. I’ve seen so many homemade granola bars lately that I wanted to put my own spin on them. I put a few ingredients together quickly, pretty much all healthy, save for a little Biscoff because . . . well . . . it’s Biscoff, and I love Biscoff, mixed them together in one bowl, pressed them into the pan, baked them, and after a little cooling tasted.

Baking as much as I do, recipes that I make fit into one of a few categories. There are those that don’t work out so well (you don’t see those here), those that I like and am happy to have tried but won’t make again, those that I really like and hope to make again one day, and then there are those special recipes that I want to make again tomorrow. Cherry Almond Granola Bars? They fit into the last category. I fell in love with these bars in one taste. Okay I really fell in love with them raw, when I had to force myself to put most of the dough in the pan, not my mouth. Maybe it’s because I haven’t had a granola bar in so long or because I’ve never had a homemade one, but these are so awesome, one of my favorite things I’ve made. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, snack, it doesn’t matter when you eat these hearty, healthy bars, just make sure you whip up a pan to give a try. The chewy oats are matched perfectly with the crunchy coconut and almonds. The tart cherries add great flavor, even the Biscoff comes through in a surprising amount, and the cherry honey intensifies the cherry flavor while keeping things gooey and chewy. I’m picturing these as a power breakfast before black Friday or Christmas morning for a burst of present opening energy.

Let’s talk giveaway. One winner will receive a full set of Chinet Bakeware. You’ll get 3 8-inch square pans, 3 large oval 7 by 11 inch pans, 3 small oval 7.25 by 9. 25 inch pans, and 2 9 by 13 inch pans. I know you’ll love this Bakeware as much as I do. Good luck!

To enter the giveaway, tell me the first thing you’d make in the Bakeware.

To earn additional entries:

Follow @piesandplots on Twitter. Come back and let me know you’ve followed in an additional and entirely separate comment.

Like Pies and Plots on Facebook. Come back and let me know you’ve liked me in an additional and entirely separate comment.

Follow Pies and Plots on Pinterest. Come back and let me know you’ve followed in an additional and entirely separate comment.

Follow @piesandplots on Instagram. Come back and let me know you’ve followed in an additional and entirely separate comment.

Subscribe to Pies and Plots via email using the form at the top of the page on the right hand side. Come back and let me know you’ve followed in an additional and entirely separate comment.

Like Chinet on Facebook. Come back and let me know you’ve liked in an additional and entirely separate comment.

Important: In order for each of your entries to count, you must leave entirely separate comments. Meaning it is possible for the first seven comments to all have been left by one person. If you leave all of this information in one comment, you will only be entered in the giveaway one time.

The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, November 11, 2012.

The winner will be chosen via the Random Number Generator on random.org. The winner will be notified by email and will have 24 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond, a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: Chinet provided the giveaway, but the opinions, as always, are my own.

I also want to tell you all about a recipe contest currently going on. It is from Tupelo Honey Cafe, which has been in my bookmarks for years as a place I want to visit. All you have to do it submit your favorite holiday side dish, dessert, or leftover recipe. I bet you know which category I’m entering Each week they’re announcing a winner of their cookbook, and at the beginning of December, three people will each win a $200 gift card to their online store or restaurants. I know you guys have some amazing recipes to submit, and bloggers, you’re eligible too. I think you and your readers would love this contest, so pass it along. Head over to Tupelo Honey’s website to take a peak at all the rules and enter. You only have until November 16th, but that’s plenty of time for all you bakers and chefs out there!

Disclaimer: Tupelo Honey Cafe approached me about this contest, but the opinions, as always, are my own, and their site really has been in my bookmarks, so it was kind of like fate that they approached me.

4.9 from 14 reviews

Cherry Almond Granola Bars and Giveaway!

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 20 mins

Total time: 30 mins

Serves: 16 generously

Ingredients

2 cups old fashioned oats (I used Quaker)
2 cups quick cooking oats (I used McCann’s)
½ cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ cup cherry honey (regular honey would also work)
1 cup dried tart cherries (I used Sun Maid)
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
½ cup flaked unsweetened coconut (I used Bob’s Red Mill)
½ cup sliced almonds
½ cup packed light brown sugar
¼ cup crunchy Biscoff

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9 by 13 inch pan with parchment. I used a Chinet Bakeware pan.
In a large bowl, combine oats, oil, vanilla, cinnamon, honey, cherries, salt, coconut, almonds, sugar, and Biscoff. Mix to fully combine and make sure there are no clumps of ingredients. Your hands may be the best tool here.
Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Press it in firmly with your hands. Bake for 20 minutes, rotating halfway through if necessary, until lightly golden brown and fragrant.
Allow bars to cool for 30 minutes, then cut into bars, but do not remove from the pan. Allow to cool completely before removing the bars from the pan or they will fall apart. May be stored at room temperature for up to one week. I do not recommend freezing this recipe.

Filed Under: Baked Goods, Bars, Granola Bars, Snack Tagged With: Almonds, Bars, Biscoff, Breakfast, Cherries, Cinnamon, Coconut, Dessert, Granola Bars, Healthy, Honey, Oats, Snack, Vanilla

Peanut Butter Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookies

July 18, 2012 8 Comments

Cravings are sometimes insatiable. As a baker and foodie who also takes exercise very seriously, I get a lot of food cravings. King Salmon and Halibut are almost always on my craving list. I could eat them every single day. The smell of them baking in the oven makes my mouth water.

But sweets are my thing. Sometimes pie gets on my mind and won’t get off until crust is rolled, filling made, the smell of baking pie fills the house, and the cooled masterpiece is sliced and served. More often, I crave cake. I love soft, moist, sometimes gooey cake, whether it’s filled with fruit or nuts, or coated in a healthy serving of creamy frosting. Cake is the kind of thing I spend all day thinking about until dessert time comes after dinner. Donuts, ice cream sandwiches, and anything Momofuku also rank high on the craving meter.

Cookies are rarely something I crave. It’s hard to find the perfect cookie to suit my tastes: soft, maybe a little gooey, not brown, huge, clearly no chocolate, and it’s even harder to make them. I have trouble underbaking cookies just enough to have that perfect cookie texture and prevent browning. But the other day I got a craving for a peanut butter cookie. It stuck around for days. All I could think about was peanut butter cookies. It was a good thing I had just whipped up some homemade peanut butter and had bookmarked Double Delight Peanut Butter-Honey Cookies from Sugar Plum. Sugar Plum was the first, and still one of the few, bloggers to welcome me to the baking blog community, so I appreciate that and have thoroughly explored her blog. These cookies are one of the many things I have been dying to make from the site.

They’re not just plain old peanut butter cookies. No way. They’re filled with peanut butter, then rolled in sugar, cinnamon, and honey roasted peanuts. The flavor combination is amazing, satisfying every peanut butter craving cell in my body. I thought the peanut butter center would be my favorite part, and while I loved it, it was actually the cookie itself that was my favorite, being the best peanut butter cookie I’ve ever had.

Be careful with the coating. The first few cookies had tons of sugary peanut goodness, but the last few barely got anything. You could also make extra topping if you want them all fully coated. Also, when I make these again (and I will be making them again), I am going to bake them at 350 instead of 375 and watch the time more closely. They weren’t overdone for anyone but me, but I would have preferred they be less brown on the bottom and slightly chewier and softer.

The next time you have a peanut butter craving, check these cookies out. They’ll satisfy the craving, but the craving will probably come back even more frequently with the exceptional taste of this treat just asking to be made again and again.

5.0 from 2 reviews

Peanut Butter Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookies

Prep time: 40 mins

Cook time: 15 mins

Total time: 55 mins

Serves: 18

Ingredients

Cookies
1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon kosher salt
⅓ cup (or a little more) creamy natural peanut butter, cold (I used homemade)
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
⅔ cup packed light brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 heaping tablespoon honey
1 large egg
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Filling
½ cup confectioner’s sugar
½ cup creamy natural peanut butter, cold (I used homemade)
1 tablespoon honey
Coating
⅔ cup finely chopped honey roasted peanuts (I used Planter’s)
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (or 350 if you don’t want the cookies to be brown on the bottom). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Make the cookies. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl, mix together peanut butter, butter, sugars, and honey until well combined, light, and fluffy. I used a spoon, but a hand or stand mixer would also work. Mix in the vanilla and egg. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and stir until fully combined. Put the dough in the refrigerator while making filling and coating.
Make the filling. In a medium bowl, stir together sugar, peanut butter, and honey until well combined. Divide mixture into 18 portions and shape into balls. I divided it in 4 sections, got 4 from each section, and left some for 2 more.
Make the coating. In a small bowl, stir together peanuts, sugar, and cinnamon.
Assemble the cookies. Divide the cookie dough into 18 portions in the same way you divided the filling. Flatten 1 piece of dough at a time in the palm of your hand. Place a ball of filling on the dough and wrap the dough around the ball, making sure it completely covers it. Roll the cookie in the coating and place on the prepared baking sheet. Flatten slightly with fingertips.
Bake for 10-15 minutes, rotating halfway through if necessary, until the cookies are barely golden brown around the edges and still quite soft to the touch. They may also be slightly cracked. Cool completely on pan or they will break. Store at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the freezer wrapped in parchment and foil and placed in a zipper bag for up to 4 months. Thaw at room temperature for about an hour.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Sugar Plum